5. Beyontroversy

31. No. It is all-out Beyoncegeddon

Here's a little tidbit. When do you think the last time was that they actually had a live performance at the Super Bowl?

Even the Boston Pops lip-synced. When you have 3 minutes to roll out the stage and no chance to set up mics and do a sound check, you lip-sync, period. There is no other option. It would take hours to get the sound right.

If you want to hear authentic music, support your local clubs. Support live music.

79. There is a group trying to organize volunteer buglers

It seems to me that for the cost of about 1 drone, we could offer to pay professional trumpeters union scale to perform these services in the most honorable, dignified, heartfelt way that the veterans deserve.

For the cost of one Predator drone, we could pay for 50,000 Taps services.

61. she was lip-syching - watch the video

She messes up at the end where her mouth doesn't match the audio at all. I think that likely happened because she had trouble with her ear piece and took it out so she couldn't hear her pre-recorded singing to know what to do with her mouth.

I'm not sure what the big deal is here... I figured they all lip-syched anyway at these kinds of functions. Cold air does really bad stuff to the vocal chords. I actually think I'd rather they lip-syched than damaged their vocal chords or ended up sounding like crap just because they're out in the cold.

All that said, I don't think she sounded so great... way too much vibrato going on there. Maybe she always sounds like that, but she's not someone I listen to, so I wouldn't know.

26. again

19. It is truly ridiculous

And is just an attempt to smear Obama somehow, via Beyonce. Not a Beyonce fan, but she is a great singer. In addition, almost everyone who sings the National Anthem lipsyncs along to a pre-recorded track.

23. Seriously

25. Do fans have a right to full disclosure at a live concert that they

just paid $100 a ticket for, that they are really listening to a recording?

The issue is how prevalent is the use of staged recording by an entertainment industry that charges top dollar for alleged live performances. That is deception in my view, just as are photo shopped enhancement of photographs portrayed as real.

What took place at the innaugaration may be emblematic of an entertainment industry that may be unable to entertain at the quality we expect unless it is artificially enhanced.

67. My point was entertainment deception in general, not the Obama innaugaration

Too much entertainment is promoted as real and candid when in reality it is all scripted and enhanced. No business should be permitted to get away with such deception. I believe that it has come to be more of the norm than the exception and it permeates other aspects of society. There should be a notification that discloses the real situation.

27. So that means Obama's swearing in was not official!!!!!

28. Only people who know nothing about singing care about this.

Ask any struggling musician you know if he/she ever spent some money on renting a recording studio.

Odds are they made the mistake of renting it in the morning, when it is cheaper.

Why is it cheaper in the morning, and why is it a mistake? Well, because most artists preform in the evening. That is what their bodies are used to and to try and your voice just isn't the same in the morning. Add to that the temperature difference and it is clear why she choose to go with a recording.

I don't condone the action, but I do understand it. Only people who don't understand have a problem with it.

77. +1

45. It is important because it is about integrity and honesty

Had an anonymous member of the Marine Corp Band not admitted to the lip-syncing, everyone would have 'believed' the truth of her 'awesome' live performance. I saw posts here and elsewhere elevating Beyoncé for her 'stirring' renditions and putting down Kelly Clarkson. I am definitely no fan of Miss Clarkson, however, at least she was honest, tried to sing in the cold, and did the best she could.

This was dishonest of Beyoncé. All music for such performances is pre-recorded. When Yo-Yo Ma played at the Inauguration, he was open and direct about using a pre-recorded version. Why? Because he has integrity and was being honest. It was too cold for him to perform well on a very expensive cello. All she needs to do to clear this up is simply admit the truth. Is it worthy of a scandal with 24/7 Fox News coverage? Hell no. Is she still a gift singer? Yes, I personally prefer other voices, but she is well above average in ability.

But why is it is so hard these days for people to just cut the bullshit and own up the the truth of a situation with integrity and decency?

64. You lack reading comprehension apparently

I didn't say she harmed anyone. I didn't say she cheated anyone. I said she is not being truthful about something that numerous performers who do the same feel no need to be 'silent' about it.

I didn't throw up a 'straw man'. I pointed out that truth matters - not just about those things that do us harm, like my examples - but also those things that don't harm us, like this simple little lie.

Do you know how often I get men, women, and children in my office who say, "So what if I lied to my boss, my teacher, my girlfriend, my spouse, etc, no one got hurt." These patterns of little lies are the bullshit that is so apparent today.

What is stupid is that I see grown men and women here unconcerned with truth in all areas not just their particular political agenda or hot button topic.

If you have nothing more intelligent to reply with, then just bow out. It is a discussion board. You are entitled to your opinion. And guess what? So am I.

68. Nope, sorry

You asked 'Who cares?' Well, there are large swatches of the population who don't care that Armstrong lied. No one was hurt with that one. Many don't care that Bush lied even though many died because of that one. Many just don't care that someone lied unless it personally affects them.

I didn't misrepresent your position. I didn't draw a fictitious conclusion as you didn't exactly offer a cogent argument. Your response, however, was far more 'strawman' like as you added words I never said, drew conclusions I never presented, and are attacking a point I never made.

I didn't say her lie was equal. I said all lies are equal regardless of intent and outcome. That is why it is important to care not only about little lies like this but the big ones as well. Read On Bullshit as you really might understand then what I was communicating in this limited medium.

If you weren't so focused on 'winning' perhaps you might learn something.

81. It is kind of embarrassing. It's silly to defend this just because she's a huge Obama supporter.

83. It Amazes Me

how many people don't care about this. It's not life or death, or even the most important issue of the day. Or even in the Top 25 issues of the day. But it's just one more instance of deception in culture today. One needle in an ever-growing haystack of official lying that threatens to take over our lives. A photoshop here, a lip synch there, everywhere a doping cyclist... It erodes our ability to believe much of anything at all, breeds cynicism. Falsity isn't wrong only if it hurts someone.